It has been described as a city with problems. The shipyards and pits are long gone, its soccer team has lost 16 times on the trot and its brewery has called time.

It has been described as a city with problems. The shipyards and pits are long gone, its soccer team has lost 16 times on the trot and its brewery has called time.

But one of the worst places in Britain?

In an internet poll, Sunderland has been nominated as one of the worst places to live in the country.

Its organisers said today it was called a "mortuary, where shell-suited, knuckle-dragging inbreeds" live.

They said the "rusting and stained" Crowtree Leisure Centre is said to dominate the area, while the city is plagued with "demolition plots, run down rented accommodation and housing estates".

And local lasses are described as "clad in orange foundation with trophy love bites shown proudly".

Sunderland has been nominated with other towns and city's across Britain as the hunt goes on to find 50 of the worst places to reside.

They will be compiled to form a book published in October, called C**p Towns.

Sam Jordison and Dan Kieran, of The Idler magazine, set up a poll to find out how much people love or loath British towns and cities. They are asking people to nominate - with as much venomous detail as possible - the worst.

Sunderland is a nominee, along with Carlisle, Croydon, Hull and High Wycombe. Newcastle has not been nominated. Dan said: "We're making our top 50 on the number of nominations each place gets. So we'll be surprised if it isn't Hull - but you never know.

"There are a number of strong contenders across the South West, there are dozens of costa-del-granny seaside towns forcing their way up the rankings, more and more of you are furious with life in London. Cumbria still seems unrelentingly miserable.

"For 40 days we will be travelling around the wilderness visiting as many towns as we can, to judge for ourselves just how bad they are."

But Sunderland Council chiefs hit back. A spokesman said: "If The Idler had a readership which earned them enough money to employ a researcher, they would know Sunderland is in fact a city and not a town.

"A city which provides Europe's largest free annual outdoor event, the Sunderland International Airshow, and boasts one of the region's most popular tourist attractions, the #13 million Museum and Winter Gardens.

"If they visit they will be met with our traditional hospitality and shown around a vibrant, bustling city with a population famed for a sense of humour which will laugh this misplaced nomination off."